Wheel handling device



July 24, 1934. G. w. BILL WHEEL HANDLING DEVICE Filed Feb. 21. 1931 2Sheets-Sheet 1 July 24, 1934. w BILL 1,967,605

WI -IEEL HANDLING DEVICE Filed Feb. 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VENTOR.

Patented July 24, 1934 George W. Bill, Valparaiso, lnd a'ssignor toUnion Tank Car Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New JerseyApplication February 21, 193i, Serial No. 517,442

solaims. (0 1. 214-455) This invention relates to a novel and improveddevice for handling wheels, and willbe best understood from thefollowing description-and the annexed drawings, in which I have shownaselected embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the device in usej.

' Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same device shown.

' which is shown as having a central substantially in Fig. 1, partsbeing shown in section; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the turntable part ofthe device; 1 1

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an elevation ofthe turntable as viewed from the right of Fig. 4. r a

. Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown the complete devicetherein as used in transferring wheels from a shop repair track. to astorage track. 'The shop repair track is of the usual kind, the tworails of which are, shown at 1, and is of standard gauge. The wheels areconnected in pairs as is usual and, as indicated in Fig. 1, the twowheels 2 are securedto a comforming a mom axle 3, and also have theusual. journals 4..

The two wheels and associated axle-will hereinafter be referred to, forsake of convenience as a pair of wheels.

' When it is desired to removeapair of wheels from the shop repairtrack, for example, I place with the base, as best shown in Fig. 4, andas indicated at '7. Disposed on the head is a. block. 8 having aninclined portion 9, the lowest point 10 of which is at such a heightthat it will come,

beneath an axle of a pair of wheels which are rested on the rails 1.

By the threadedengagement between the head and the base, the head andblock carried thereby may be adjusted to various heights for differentdiameters of axles and for different sizes of wheels. When the portion 9is placed beneath an axle, the pair of wheels. may then be rolledupwardly on the block until the axle rests upon the horizontallyinclined portion 11 of the block, a suitable stop 12 being provided tolimit movement of the axle. In the form shown, the block is shown as ofwood secured to the head 6 by means of bolts 13.

After the axle has been rolled onto the upper portion 11 of the block asdescribed above, the wheels will be lifted from the rails, and theheight of the portion 11 is such that the flanges 14 of the wheels willnow clear the rails 1. The head may then be turned to bring the pair ofwheels into position substantially parallel to the rails 1.

Disposed adjacent the shop repair track, and shown as parallelthereto,is a second track, the rails of which are indicated at 15, and it willbe noted that this track is shown as a narrow gauge one. On this trackis'mounted a truck having wheels 16 resting on the rails 15 andsupporting a frame of any suitable construction, here shown ascomprising two bearing members 17, each of horizontal portion, on eitherside of which is an inclined portion. These bearing members extendtransversely of the truck as shown, and are adapted to support the axle3 of a pair of wheels, as plainly shown.

' Pivotally mounted on the frame of the truck, as at 18, is a laterallyextending arm of such length that its other end is adapted to rest uponthe head 6 of the turntable. In the form shown, the pivot 18 is-in theform of a rod extending lengthwise of the truck frame, and the arm has abearing 19 surrounding this rod. Secured to the bearing are laterallyextending side members 20 connected by suitable spacers 21.

Preferably, the arm is formed of a plurality of sections hingedtogether, and, in the form shown,

there are two sections hinged together at 22. The members 20 extendbeyond the pivot or hinge 22, and when the arm is in operative position,as shown in. full lines in Fig. 2, a transversely extending rod 23carried by the members 20 is received in notches 24 in the upper edgesof corresponding members 20.

These members 20 are-of similar construction to themembers 20, and havetheir ends nearest the truck mounted on the pivot 22. This pivot is hereshown as'in the form-of a long bolt'extending between the'members 20 andsurrounded between the members 20 by a sleeve 25 which may be used as aconvenient handle when collapsing or expanding the arm.

The members 20 are equipped with spacers 21, and have their outer ends26 spaced apart a distance such that they will be received on theportions 2'7 of the head 6 which lie on opposite sides of the block 8. i

With the above arrangement, after the pair of wheels has been liftedonto the turntable, and the turntable head has been rotated so as tobring the axle substantially parallel to the rails of the shop repairtrack, the narrow gauge truck may be brought to a position opposite theturntable and the arm expanded until its ends rest upon the turntablehead. The pair of wheels may then be rolled along the arm, which thusforms a bridge to convey the wheels to the truck. When in place on thetruck, removable stops may be employed to hold the wheels thereon, thesestops being exemplified by removable bolts 28 received in holes 29 inthe frame. It will be understood that the height of the members 20, andparticularly the members 20', wherethey rest upon the head,issubstantially equal to the height of the portion llof theablock abovethe head 6, so that the axle will roll without difiiculty from the blockto the bridge'formed by the arm.

Similarly, it will be understood that the pivot 18 is so arranged withrespect to theiheight-ofrthe members 20 that the axle will rollirom themembers 20 onto the middle portion iofthe;;bearing members 17. At thesame time, inequality due to different elevations of the two tracks maybe easily compensated for bymdjvustmeniy-of thearm about the pivot 18,or, if necessary, byia slight adjustment between sections of the armabout the ivot 22, although ordinarily suchadjustment will notbeznecessary.

:While thetruck is shownsas beingmountedz-on a track aswill be usual, itis,-,of-'co,urse, to Jae V understood that the truck maybe .oiqa typenot needing-a, track, without departing from thesscope of this.invention.

Referring more;particularlyxtoiigs.,3 4and 5, V

wherein I'have shown theturntabletonamenlarged scale, it will: be-seenthat the bottomioffthe base 5 is provided 'with :a plurality-ofserrations 3.0 wherebyrotation of the base is,pr,even-ted,iit beingunderstood Y that :these zserrations will .bite into the ties of thetrack and/orlthe :ball-ast between the 'tiesto a sufficient-extent .to.preyent rotation.

The base-is also provided ,with suitable handles 31 whereby theturntablemay be'easily ;plaee.d in p.osition,:and,removed whenznot inuse. On the head 6. of .the periphery rthereof, outside. theportions2'7, are disposedeupwardlyextending pro jections 32 which 'serveto prevent accidental displacement of the ends.26. of .themembers20f.

.From thejabove it willbe seen that-I haviaproferrlng pa1rs..of Wheelsto and irom ajstorage without. departing from rthe scope, ofthednvention.

vldedfla devicefor rapidlyand .eflicientlyitrans tionnas-embodied in.a1certain:orm,.it isrto be understood a that changes -may be imade"therein I claim:

1. A turntable having a base adapted to be placed between the rails of atrack, a block supported on said base and adapted toengage beneath anaxle of a pair of wheels on the rails, a head supporting said block androtatably mounted on the :base, means to raise and lower the head, andmeans on opposite .sides of the, head 1 to support members with theirtops substantially level with the top of the block, whereby said axlemay be ttransferred to said members.

2. A turntable having a base adapted to be p'laced between the rails ofa track, a block sup- ,ported'onssaid'base .and rotatable thereon andada'ptedtoengage beneath an axle of a pair of wheels ontherails, meansto raise and lower said block, said block having a horizontally inclined'portionnponwhich an-axle may be rolled, and a ihig-her; portionconnecting with the inclined portion to receive the axle.

iturntab'le shaving ;-a base adapted .to be placediibet-ween the rails:of :a :track, .ai block :supported con asa-id hase .wan d :rotatablethereon and adapted :to teng-agle :loeneath .an :axle :of a .pair .ofwheelsson zthe trails, :means to maise .and lower said block, said blockhaving a horizontally rinclined portion-upon an axle; may joe. rolled,and a -highenportionsconnecting-,withzthe. inclined portion to'.rece-ivetheiaxle, anrliastop ,toilimit movement of .axlealo-ng: said higheriportion.

4. A truck comprising a support .for a pair-of wheelsadapted-toaengageztheaxle connecting said wheels, with S3.i.d'.,2,Xl6lengthwise .of the truck, and an arm extendirigilaterally ifrom saidsunnort .andladapted ttoesunport .saidsaxle 121!) when: IQIlfidLtOr-XDI:fromztheitrucks, asaidsarmheing formed inia plurality;ofsections;hingedtogether, with onessection pivoted'r-toathessupportzandhavinglits.arr-1e--engagingz surface substantially flush with theiaxleeengagingsurface of theasupport.

5. 111 combination, 1a truck having thereon a support forvazpair of:wheelsiadapted :.to engage the axle :connecting. said :o'vheels, swith.said axle extending lengthswise :zof :Iihe struck, :53, "turntableaziaplted'iito'bezplaoedsbetween .thezrailsrof. a track, :129 a block onsaid turntable adaptedztosengage said axle, Imeans son .the blockadapted itoilift :a :pair of Wheelsafter .aengagement eof .said a'blockwith the :nxleadfssaidavheels an armfhaving one end pivotaliy iseeured:ato ssaid ".liIllQk and having 5 an i125 axle-engaging :surfaeelsubstantially'fiushtmth the, aitle engagingssurface: otezsaid support,andmeans on saiii turntablez to support thenther endaof :saidarmwvit'htthe axle -engaging.- surfacezthereofsubstantial'ly flushvwithethe vztopizof.zsa-id .lblOGk. 13G

*GEOBGE 2W. BILL.

